Summary
There was quite a bit riding on this latest PlayStation State of Play, especially following Xbox’s recent Developer Direct, but for the most part, it achieved exactly what it set out to do. Not a full-length showcase, the most recent State of Play still delivered around 45 minutes of entertaining reveals and long-awaited updates, covering PS4, PS5, andupcoming PlayStation VR2 games, withMetro Awakeningbeing a major standout for the latter category.
The firstMetrogame in almost five years,Metro Awakeningis set to be a story-driven VR prequel that takes place in 2028. For a series as already immersive asMetro, a VR game makes a whole lot of sense, andMetro Awakening’s first trailer shows a lot of promise. But not everyone is happy aboutMetro Awakening’s existence. For those wanting a fully-fledged mainlineMetrosequel,Awakening’s announcement has been a bit of a disappointment, though those fans really don’t need to worry, as the future of theMetrofranchise won’t be virtual reality.
The Future of Metro Won’t Be VR
Metro Awakening Could Be a Killer App for PSVR2
Though its announcement trailer was brief,Metro Awakeningalready seems like a logical next step for the franchise, and its developer has more than enough experience in the VR landscape to deliver a compelling, story-driven experience.Metro Awakeningis being developed by Vertigo Games, a studio that’s been working in the VR space for a decade now. Over the last 10 years, Vertigo has worked on some of the best-reviewed VR games around, including thezombie shooter seriesArizona Sunshine, the co-op-focusedAfter the Fall, and the ultimate Sci-Fi simulatorStar Trek: Bridge Crew.
It seems as thoughMetro Awakeningis in safe hands, and that seems pretty evident from the game’s debut trailer. Though it doesn’t show much,Metro Awakening’s trailerdelivers all the usual franchise imagery fans have come to expect from aMetrogame, from makeshift weapons to some horrifying mutant monsters to plenty of eerie underground tunnels. The atmosphere appears to be spot-on inMetro Awakening, and that’s possibly the most integral aspect of the entire franchise.
It still has a little ways to go, and it’s far too early to make any sweeping judgements, but it’s more than possible thatMetro Awakeningcould finally be the killer app that PlayStation VR2 really needs. WhileHorizon: Call of the Mountainwas solid, it wasn’t really the system-seller that Sony was probably hoping for, and though games likeResident Evil VillageVRare great, they’re not moving systems either.Metro Awakeningcould be that game, even if it’s important to note thatMetro Awakeningis not exclusive, with it also set for aPC VR and Meta Quest 2/3release.
Metro Awakening Is Just a Side Project for the Franchise
WhileMetro Awakeningcould be a match made in heaven for the franchise, fans without a VR headset probably don’t need to worry about missing out too much, or worry that theMetrofranchise will suddenly be a VR-only series moving forward. VR entries in established franchises are almost always spin-offs that, more often than not, don’t really impact the mainline series.Horizon: Call of the Mountainis a good example of this, featuring cameos and crossovers with the mainline series, but probably not affectingthe development ofHorizon3in any major way.
As if that standard gaming industry pattern wasn’t enough evidence, fans have also heard it directly from the series' original developers. Shortly followingMetro Awakening’s announcement, many fans took to Twitter to voice their concerns over the perceived direction of the series. In response,Metro’s official Twitter accountconfirmed that 4A Games is still hard at work on the next mainlineMetroentry, meaning that fans have nothing to worry about.
Metro
A post-apocalyptic franchise based on the novels from Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky. Includes games like Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro: Exodus. A VR title called Metro: Awakening is also launching on the PS VR2.
